The UK is home to more than 2,500 onshore wind farms. The largest among them to date is Whitelee Wind Farm, located near Glasgow in Scotland. With the support of the UK government onshore wind energy is expanding with some of the great projects in the planning and under construction stage.

As per 2024 data, there is 15GW of installed onshore wind capacity in the UK. Currently, more than half of the onshore wind farms in the UK are in Scotland. The UK needs to install 35GW of onshore wind by 2035, as suggested by the Climate Change Committee, to reach net zero. 

The UK government's guidance recommends that renewable energy developers deliver community benefits through projects. Onshore windfarms benefit the local residents by setting up community funds, and compensatory payments to local residents like energy bill discounts or shared ownership of onshore wind turbines.

Let’s explore some of the largest onshore wind farms in the UK.

Top 5 Onshore Wind Projects in the UK 2024 (Based on Capacity)

Whitelee Wind Farm

Number of Turbines: 215

Maximum Installed Capacity: 539 MW

Homes Powered: 350,000 

Investment: USD 336 million

Completion: 2009

Whitelee Wind Farm is located in Eaglesham Moor, near Glasgow. It is the largest onshore wind farm in the UK harnessing onshore wind power. The wind farm is operated by ScottishPower Renewables and features 215 turbines. The project cost for the 539 MW onshore wind farm is estimated to be USD 336 million.

The development of Whitelee Wind Farm began in 2000, with ScottishPower Renewables applying for permission in 2002. Construction commenced in 2006 after receiving approval. The first turbine blades were installed in November 2007, and the project reached full operational capacity by July 2009. Initially consisting of 140 Siemens turbines with a total capacity of 322MW. The wind farm has undergone two major expansions, increasing its capacity to 539MW by adding 75 more turbines.

Benefits of the Wind Farm

Whitelee Wind Farm reduces carbon emissions and powers 350,000 British homes. The project also supports local economies by creating jobs during the construction and operational phases. Also, the consortium invests in community development initiatives.

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Technological and Operational Details

The initial installation at Whitelee included 140 Siemens turbines, each standing 300 feet tall with a 150-foot blade length. These turbines rotate at 150 mph, making 17 revolutions per minute. These massive turbines are anchored with foundations over 30 feet deep.

The expansions introduced 69 Alstom turbines of 3MW and six turbines of 1.67MW. The turbines feature the Pure Torque concept to protect the drive train and ensure higher efficiency. The Whitelee Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was introduced in late 2022, using lithium-ion battery technology with a 50MW storage capacity.

Contractors and Partners

Balfour Beatty was responsible for the construction of the substation and control room. Also, the contractor supplied and installed electrical and control systems, switchgear, and cabling. The joint venture of John Sisk and Son and Roadbridge was awarded the contract for the wind farm's expansion in November 2010. Siemens supplied the initial 140 turbines which harness wind power under a USD 260 million contract. Alstom provided 75 turbines, including 69 3MW ECO-100 and six 1.67MW ECO-74 wind turbines.

Whitelee Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

In late 2022, Whitelee Wind Farm introduced the Whitelee Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the largest wind farm battery in the UK. This system has a capacity of 50MW, equivalent to nearly 4 million smartphone batteries. The BESS can achieve a full charge in about an hour, thus providing consistent renewable energy.

Scoop Hill wind farm

Number of Turbines: 60

Maximum Installed Capacity: 525 MW

The Scoop Hill Community Wind Farm is situated in Dumfries and Galloway, 5 km from southeast of Moffat. Initially submitted as a 75-turbine project, the wind farm has been redesigned and now comprises 60 turbines and a battery storage facility.

The Scoop Hill onshore wind farm was redesigned in consultation with local communities and stakeholders. The onshore wind project was scaled down from 75 to 60 turbines, a 20% reduction. And the tip heights of four southern turbines were reduced, internal access tracks were refined, two borrow pits (N1 & N4) were removed, and three (N6, N7 & N8) were relocated. 

Benefits of the Wind Farm

The Scoop Hill wind farm offset more than 735,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, equating to 29.4 million tonnes over its 40-year operational life. These efforts align with Scotland’s goals to reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. Economically, the project provides community benefits funding of USD 5,000 per MW and creates over 250 construction jobs.

Current Status and Controversy

The project faced opposition from the planning committee on the grounds of its visual and landscape impact. This decision came after a lengthy debate, despite planning officers recommending not to object. The final decision on the development will be made by the Scottish Government.

The wind farm has been scaled back due to concerns about its impact on cultural heritage, dark skies, and golden eagles in the area. Initially proposed with 75 turbines, the project was reduced to 60 turbines following community consultations. The opposition from the local council highlights ongoing concerns about the visual and landscape effects of the project.

Viking wind farm

Number of Turbines: 103

Maximum Installed Capacity: 443 MW

Homes Powered: 500,000

Investment: USD 580 million

Completion: Expected in 2024

The Viking Wind Farm is located in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It will be one of the largest onshore wind farms on construction, with 103 turbines and a capacity of 443 MW. This project is set to power approximately half a million homes with renewable electricity.

The project received its initial consent from Scottish Ministers in 2012 after the Shetland Islands Council decided not to object in 2010. A revised application was approved in May 2019. SSE Renewables, a subsidiary of SSE, made the final investment decision in June 2020, and construction began in autumn 2020. The last of the 103 wind turbines was installed in August 2023, with completion expected in 2024 after commissioning works and the finalization of the HVDC connection.

Benefits of the wind farm

The Viking Wind Farm represents an investment of USD 580 million and created around 400 jobs during peak construction. It is expected to provide 35 full-time local operations and maintenance jobs throughout its operational lifetime. A community benefit fund of approximately USD 72 million over 25 years will prioritize the four community council areas hosting the turbines.

Read: Top 7 Floating Offshore Wind Projects in United Kingdom (UK)

Technological and Operational Details

The Viking Wind Farm features 103 Vestas V117-4.2 MW turbines, each optimized to 4.3 MW for high performance and durability. These turbines are designed to withstand extreme wind conditions, with a rotor diameter of 117 meters and a blade length of 57.2 meters. The power generated will be transmitted via a 600 MW HVDC link, connecting Shetland to the UK mainland through a 260 km-long subsea cable.

Contractors and Partners

Key contractors and partners involved in the Viking Wind Farm include:

Vestas: Turbine supplier, installer, and service provider.

RJ McLeod: Principal civil construction contractor.

BAM Ritchies: Conducted ground investigations.

Nexans: Supplied 800 km of 33 kV underground cables.

FairWind: Wind turbine installation partner.

Ramboll UK: Independent planning monitoring officer.

Tulloch Developments: Built access track to HVDC converter station.

Teviot wind farm

Number of Turbines: 62
Maximum Turbine Height: 240 meters
Generating Capacity: 409 MW
Number of Homes Powered: 440,000

The 409 MW Teviot Wind Farm is developed by Muirhall Energy. Located approximately 8 kilometers southwest of Hawick in the Scottish Borders, the project supplies green energy to 440,000 households.

Muirhall Energy submitted a planning application for the Teviot Wind Farm, which requires consent from Scottish Ministers via the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) due to its installed capacity exceeding 50 MW. Public exhibition events were held in August and September 2021 to gather feedback from residents, which played a crucial role in shaping the final design of the project.

The project is expected to be commissioned in 2026. The revised proposal includes 53 turbines instead of the initial 62 and the removal of the solar array.

Benefits of the Wind Farm

Teviot Wind Farm will generate green electricity to power 440,000 homes and offer community investment, including USD 2.86 million annually.  The wind farm will feature shared ownership, enhancing local economic development and community engagement.

Technological and Operational Details

The wind farm will feature 62 turbines with varying heights of up to 240 meters. The turbine is designed to optimize performance in medium to high wind speed. Advanced monitoring and control systems will ensure high operational efficiency and reliability.

Contractors and Partners

Muirhall Energy leads the project with contributions from various contractors and partners. Ground investigations were conducted by BAM Ritchies, and civil engineering support is provided by Tulloch Developments. Specialist Haulier McFadyens handles turbine deliveries. These partnerships ensure the successful construction and operation of the wind farm.

Clyde wind farm

Number of Turbines: 206

Total Installed Capacity: 522 MW

Number of Homes Powered: 200,000

Investment: USD 600 million (USD 960 million)

The Clyde Wind Farm is located south of Biggar in the southern uplands of Scotland. This is one of the largest onshore wind farms operational in USDope. Developed by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), the project spans 47.5 square kilometers. The wind farm features 206 turbines with a total installed capacity of 522 MW.

The Clyde Wind Farm was constructed in two stages. The initial site, comprising 152 turbines, was completed in 2012. A subsequent extension of 54 turbines, located at Camps Reservoir, was completed in 2017. The project was divided into three sections: south, central, and north, with construction beginning in 2009. The south section became operational in September 2011, followed by the central and north sections in 2012. The extension received consent in July 2014 and began operations in September 2017.

Benefits of the Wind Farm

Clyde Wind Farm generates over 1,000 GWh of electricity annually, enough to power 200,000 households. This substantial clean energy production supports the Scottish Government's renewable energy targets and reduces carbon emissions. The project has contributed over USD 220 million in socio-economic benefits.

Technological and Operational Details

The wind farm features 206 Siemens wind turbine generators. Each of them is rated at 2.3 MW, with hub heights of 80 meters and blade diameters of approximately 90 meters. The turbines are installed on reinforced concrete gravity bases. 

Power generated by the facility is transmitted to the national grid through two large substations. The wind farm is expected to operate for 25 years, with options for decommissioning or turbine replacement at the end of its operational life.

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Contractors and Partners

Clyde Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Greencoat UK Wind Plc, and GLIL Corporate Holdings Ltd. SSE Renewables operates the wind farm on behalf of the partner organizations. Key contractors and partners involved in the project include:

Siemens: Supplied, installed, and commissioned the wind turbines and also handled initial operation and maintenance.

Welcon Towers: Manufactured the turbine towers at its Machrihanish factory in Argyll.

Blackwell Group: Undertook main works for the north and south sections.

Land Use Consultants (LUC): Acted as ecological clerk of works and designed a layout suited to the surrounding landscape.

Headland Archaeology: Conducted environmental impact assessments and prepared environmental impact statements.

Fairhurst: Provided civil, structural, and geotechnical engineering services.

Windhoist: Erected all wind turbines.

Balfour Beatty: Principal contractor for the wind farm extension.

Read: Top Five Upcoming Offshore Wind Farm Power Projects in United Kingdom (UK)

Conclusion

The top five onshore wind farm projects in the UK highlight the country's strides in renewable energy security. Projects like Whitelee, Viking, Scoop Hill, Teviot, and Clyde wind farms contribute to the UK's renewable electricity generation capacity. These onshore wind developments collectively represent a major step towards achieving the UK's climate goals, providing clean electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes, creating jobs, and fostering local economic development. With ongoing expansions and advancements in technology like energy storage systems, these projects are exceptional in the UK's sustainable energy future.

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